Space volatilizing device

ABSTRACT

This disclosure is directed to a volatilizing device for disseminating a volatile substance as a dry matter to the surrounding atmosphere in a controlled manner. The device includes a container which when closed contains a readily compressible shape of foamed urethane which has been impregnated with an aqueous emulsion of a volatile substance with the help of a surfactant in a manner whereby the volatile matter is gradually released when exposed to the atmosphere. The impregnated foam is rendered self-expandible to extend beyond the container opening when the cover is removed. The volatile matter which can be readily impregnated into the foamed urethane includes a fragrance producing volatile, or a medicinal producing volatile, or an insecticidal producing volatile or an anti-microbic producing volatile.

llnited States Engel atent 1 1 [54] SPACE VOLATliLlZING DEVICE [22]Filed: June 21, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 264,863

[52] U.S.Cl ..239/47, 239/55 [51] Int. Cl. ..A24f 25/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..239/47,53, 54, 55, 239/56, 58

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,538,989 1/1951 Tomaschke.239 47 3,129,888 4/1964 OHagan .239 55 2,537,357 1 1951 Levin .239/473,257,077 6/1966 Coming... .....239/47 2,766,067 10/1956 Shinberg..239/5sx FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 477,291 1 1953? ltaly .239/427/B IO /4 Primary Examiner M. Henson Wood, Jr. AssistantExaminer-Reinhold W. Thieme Attorney-Arthur T. Fattibene 5 7 l STRACTThis disclosure is directed to a volatilizing device for disseminating avolatile substance as a dry matter to the surrounding atmosphere in acontrolled manner. The device includes a container which when closedcontains a readily compressible shape of foamed urethane which has beenimpregnated with an aqueous emulsion of a volatile substance with thehelp of a surfactant in a manner whereby the volatile matter isgradually released when exposed to the atmosphere. The impregnated foamis rendered self-expandible to extend beyond the container opening whenthe cover is removed. The volatile matter which can be readilyimpregnated into the foamed urethane includes a fragrance producingvolatile, or a medicinal producing volatile, or an insecticidalproducing volatile or an anti-microbic producing volatile.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures SPACE VOLATILIZING DEVICE PROBLEM AND PRIORART Heretofore efforts have been made to provide a device by which aroom may be freshened and/or to disseminate an odor in a room.Heretofore such efforts included the positioning of solid disinfectantsusing a hanger in the area desired to be cleaned as disclosed in U. S.Pat. Nos. 2,766,067 and 3,129,888. Also the use I of a container filledwith a volatilizing liquid has been used in which a wick was employed toeffect evapora tion of the volatilizing liquid by capillary action.While these efforts proved satisfactory in some instances, they werelimited to specific applications and subject to certain disadvantages.The wick disseminating device required a liquid reservoir and a manuallifting of the wick. Such devices were subject to breaking and/orspillage in the event they were accidentally overturned. To render thewick self-extending, such wicks were associated with a compressiblespring which would automatically extend the wick when the top of thecontainer was removed, e.g., as disclosed in U. S. Letters Pat. Nos.2,537,357 and 2,538,989. Other efforsts to disseminate odor to freshen aroom are evidenced by U. S. Letters Pat. Nos. 1,968,136 and 3,134,544.

OBJECTS An object of this invention is to provide a vaporizing device inwhich a volatile matter can be readily disseminated to a surroundingatmosphere without the need of maintaining a liquid reservoir.

Another object is to provide a wick type of vaporizing device in whichthe wick is impregnated with an aqueous emulsion of a surfactant andvolatile matter in a manner whereby the wick is virtually dry andwhereby the volatile matter impregnated therein is gradually releasedwhen exposed to the atmosphere over a considerable period of time.

Another object of this invention is to provide a wick type vapordispensing device in which the wick is selfextendible.

Another object is to provide a wick type of vaporiz- .ing device inwhich either end of the wick is rendered self-extendible.

Another object is to provide a virtually dry wick type vapor dispensingdevice.

Another object is to provide a virtually dry wick type vapor dispensingdevice by which various types of volatiles can be readily dispensed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION the material of the foam, and which isgradually plates a container formed of complementary sectionsconstructed so that either section may comprise the body of thecontainer with the other section forming the cover therefor so thatdepending upon which section is removed, permits the adjacent endportion of the extendible wick to be exposed to the atmosphere, forliberating the volatile matter impregnated thereinto. The wick is suchthat various volatiles can be readily 0 impregnated therein so thatdepending upon the volatile used, the vaporizing device can be used as aroom freshener, a sanitizing device, a medicinal vapor dispensingdevice, etc.

FEATURES A feature of this invention resides in the provision of avolatilizing device in which the wick is rendered selfextending.

Another feature resides in a wick type volatilizing device in which thevolatile matter is releasably contained within the material of the wickso as to dispense without the need of a liquid reservoir.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of avolatilizing dispenser in which the wick is virtually dry to the touch.

Another feature of the invention resides in the feature of avolatilizing device having a virtually dry wick confined within acontainer so that either end of the wick is rendered self-extendiblefrom its confining container.

Other features and advantages will be more readily apparent whenconsidered in view of the drawing and specification in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a sectional view of a space volatilizer embodying thepresent invention shown in an inoperative position.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the volatilizer of FIG. 1 illustrated inan operative position.

FIG. 3 is a modified construction shown in section in the inoperativeposition.

FIG 4 is a sectional view of the construction of FIG. 3 shown inoperative position.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the construction of FIG. 3 shown inanother alternative operative position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown therein aspace volatilizing device embodying the present invention. As shown, thedevice 10 comprises a container 11 having a body portion 11A and aclosure 11B. The body 111A of the container ill is defined by a closedbottom wall 12 having a circumscribing end wall 13 of a predeterminedheight h. The upper end of the body 1 1A is formed with an open end 14.Circumscribing the upper open end, the body may be provided with screwthreads 15 by which the closure 1 18 may be detachably secured thereto.It will be understood that the closure 1 18 may be detachably secured tothe body 11A of the container by any other means, e.g., by friction,etc.

Disposed within the container is a longitudinally compressible wick I6.As best seen in FIG. 2, the wick is provided with an extended length Hwhich is substantially greater than the height h of the container bodyA, which is rendered self-extending when the closure 1 1B is removed.

According to this invention the wick 16 is formed of a water insolubleurethane foam, which may comprise a polymer, copolymer or derivatives ofurethane or vinyl. The urethane or vinyl wick, when formed is formedwith an open cellular structure, and can be readily compressed, as shownin FIG. 1 to occupy the volume of the container 11. With the cover 11Bremoved the urethane or vinyl wick, due to its inherent elastic memoryis self-extended to a projected position as seen in FIG. 2.

The urethane or vinyl foam, in accordance with this invention isimpregnated with an aqueous emulsion ofa surfactant and a volatilematter in a manner as described in my co-pending patent application Ser.No. 96,354 filed Dec. 9, 1970, now U. S. Letters Patent No. 3,688,985,granted Sept. 5, 1972 and co-pending patent application, Ser. No.266,642, filed Apr. 17, l972.

As disclosed in the foregoing patent applications, the urethane foam isimpregnated with a selected volatile matter by immersing of the foamurethane in an aqueous emulsion of a surfactant and a liquid volatilefor a predetermined period of time. After the lapse of saidpredetermined period of time the urethane foam is removed and dried ofall excess liquid. The phenomenon that occurs is that the volatilematter of the aqueous emulsion is impregnated directly into the walls ormaterial of the urethane foam and it -is releasably held therein. Uponexposure to the atmosphere the volatile held in the body of the materialof the urethane foam is gradually liberated or given up to theatmosphere in a controlled manner in a chemically unchanged, dry state.

The impregnation of the urethane foam by such aqueous emulsion is suchthat the foam after being dried of the excess liquid is virtually dry tothe touch and free of any liquid or need for liquid reservoir tomaintain it in an operative state. Thus when such impregnated urethanefoam wick is confined in its container 11, the latter is completelydevoid of any liquid reservoir, and the impregnated wick 16 is alsovirtually dry to the touch. Yet, when exposed to the atmosphere, as seenin FIG. 2, the volatile matter impregnated in the walls of the wick isgradually liberated or given up to the atmosphere. To render the deviceinoperative, the wick 16 is simply compressed within the volume of thecontainer 11 and the container body 11A sealed closed by attachment ofthe closure 1 1B thereto.

As described in said co-pending patent applications, the wick may beimpregnated with various volatiles. That is, the wick, by the aqueousemulsion technique described, can be impregnated with volatiles whichwill liberate a fragrance, e.g., an essence ofa flower or fruit, orwhich is rendered insecticidal, medicinal, antimicrobic, and/orsanitizing, depending upon the particular volatile which has beenimpregnated into the material of the wick 16.

FIGS. 3 to 5 illustrate a modified form of the invention. In this formof the invention the volatilizing device 20 comprises a container 21formed of two complementary sections 21A and 218. Each section, 21A and21B, is provided with a closed end 22 and 23 with a connectedcircumscribing end wall 22A, 23A, that define a full open end 24, 25. Inthe illustrated embodiment the respective sections 21A and 21B define avolume equal to substantially one half the volume of container 21.

Adjacent the open end portions 24, 25 of the respective sections 21A,213 there is provided complementa- 5 ry fastening means 26 whereby therespective sections 21A, 218 can be readily detachably secured to form aclosed container. In the illustrated embodiment the complementaryfastening means may comprise mating screw threads. However, any suitablefastening means may be utilized which can render the sections 21A and21B readily separable. Thus as shown, one section forms the closure forthe other.

Disposed between sections 21A and 21B is a longitudinal compressiblewick 27 impregnated with a volatile as described with respect to FIGS. 1and 2. In this form of the invention it will be noted that eithersection 21A or 21B may comprise the body portion of the container,depending as to which section is removed as the 20 closure. Thus as seenin FIG. 4, when the section 21B is removed, the adjacent end 27A of theurethane wick 27 is extended.

When section 21A is removed from section 218, as shown in FIG. 5, theother end 2713 of the wick is ex- 25 tended. In this manner either endof the wick 27 can be readily extended and exposed for maximumutilization of the volatile contained therein.

For maximum exposure of wick 27, it will be understood that the extendedlength of wick H is rendered 30 substantially greater than the height hof the closed container 21.

While the invention has been described with particular reference tourethane foam, polymers, co-polymers or derivatives thereof, it will beunderstood that the invention may be practiced in all respects asdescribed with foamed vinyl polymers, co-polymers and derivativesthereof.

While the present invention has been described with respect toparticular embodiments thereof, it will be readily appreciated andunderstood that variations and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A space volatilizer for disseminating a volatile matter comprising:

a container having an open end, a closure for sealing said open end,means for securing said closure to said container in the sealed positionthereof,

and a piece of foamed plastic that is compressible, and selected fromthe group consisting of urethane, vinyl, polymers, co-polymers andderivatives thereof,

said foamed plastic being impregnated with an aqueous emulsion of avolatile substance and a surfactant whereby said volatile matter isimpregnated directly into the material of said foamed plastic wherebysaid foamed plastic is virtually dry to the touch and said volatilematter being gradually released in achemically unchanged state as a drygas to the surrounding atmosphere when exposed to the atmosphere,

said foamed plastic having an extended length which is greater than theheight of the container whereby said foamed plastic is compressed withinthe container in the sealed position thereof and which foamed plastic isself-extendible to project beyond the open end of the container when theclosure is removed for exposing the extended portion to the atmosphere.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said plastic foam isimpregnated with an aqueous emulsion ofa fragrance producing volatile.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said plastic foam isimpregnated with an aqueous emulsion containing a medicinal volatile.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said plastic foam isimpregnated with an aqueous emulsion containing an insecticidalvolatile.

5. The inventkon as defined in claim 1 wherein said plastic foam isimpregnated with an aqueous emulsion one said section defining theclosure for the open end of the other of said sections,

and said foamed plastic being compressed between said sections in theclosed position thereof whereby either end portion of said plastic foamis self-extendible beyond the open end of either of said housingsections depending upon which section is removed.

7. A vapor dispensing device comprising:

a container formed of complementary sections which are substantiallysimilar in size,

each section having a closed end and an open end,

complementary fastening means formed adjacent the open end of therespective containers whereby the open ends of the respective sectionscan be detachably mated to define a closed container,

and a compressible wick disposed within said container section in theclosedposition thereof, and

said wick being self-expansible when one of said sections is detachedfrom the other,

said wick being impregnated with a volatile matter which is graduallyreleased to the surrounding atmospher'e when one of the sections isremoved.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said plastic foam isimpregnated with an aqueous emulsion of a fragrance producing volatile.3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said plastic foam isimpregnated with an aqueous emulsion containing a medicinal volatile. 4.The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said plastic foam isimpregnated with an aqueous emulsion containing an insecticidalvolatile.
 5. The inventkon as defined in claim 1 wherein said plasticfoam is impregnated with an aqueous emulsion containing an anti-microbicvolatile.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said containercomprises: a pair of complementary sections, which are substantiallysimilar in size, each section having an open end and a closed end,complementary means formed adjacent the respective open ends of saidcomplementary section whereby said open end may be detachably secured todefine a closed container, one said section defining the closure for theopen end of the other of said sections, and said foamed plastic beingcompressed between said sections in the closed position thereof wherebyeither end portion of said plastic foam is self-extendible beyond theopen end of either of said housing sections depending upon which sectionis removed.
 7. A vapor dispensing device comprising: a container formedof complementary sections which are substantially similar in size, eachsection having a closed end and an open end, complementary fasteningmeans formed adjacent the open end of the respective containers wherebythe open ends of the respective sections can be detachably mated todefine a closed container, and a compressible wick disposed within saidcontainer section in the closed position thereof, and said wick beingself-expansible when one of said sections is detached from the other,said wick beinG impregnated with a volatile matter which is graduallyreleased to the surrounding atmosphere when one of the sections isremoved.